There are an estimated 2 million people with asthma in Taiwan, but only about 700,000 people have been diagnosed and are receiving treatment, a medical association said yesterday on the eve of World Asthma Day.
World Asthma Day is held annually on the first Tuesday of May.
The Taiwan Society of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (TSPCCM) president Chen Yu-min (陳育民) said that there is a consensus among experts that asthma management should prioritize proactive anti-inflammatory treatment rather than relying on passive emergency care.
Photo: CNA
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is difficult to cure completely, TSPCCM secretary-general Chou Kun-ta (周昆達) said.
When the airways are constantly irritated by allergens or triggers, the respiratory mucosa becomes swollen and produces excess mucus, which narrows the airway passages and restricts airflow, resulting in symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing, Chou said.
Previously, people with asthma often relied on bronchodilators to provide immediate relief, but it does not address the underlying issue of inflammation, he said.
Over the past few years, asthma treatments have shifted from simple symptom relief to prioritizing inflammation control, aimed at preventing people from falling into a vicious cycle of recurring attacks, he said.
While international treatment guidelines have shifted to proactive anti-inflammatory control, daily asthma control is the key to reducing acute exacerbations, Chou said, adding that it is important for people with asthma to have access to anti-inflammatory inhalers.
Taking oral steroids during an acute attack can cause systemic side effects, but using inhaled steroids for daily care has fewer systemic side effects when taken at recommended doses, he said.
For people with severe and uncontrolled asthma resistant to inhaled steroids, biologics therapies can be used early on to inhibit specific inflammatory mechanisms, improving symptoms and reducing the need for oral steroids, he added.
Meanwhile, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said its National Health Interview Survey showed that 4.7 percent of adults have been diagnosed with asthma.
Among those who experienced an asthma attack within the past year, 14.5 percent reported that it impacted their work or daily life, indicating that poor asthma control significantly affects quality of life, it said.
Avoiding risk factors and implementing daily management are the keys to maintaining stable asthma control, it said.
The HPA listed five key points for managing asthma in daily life as: maintaining a clean and well-ventilated environment, being mindful of temperature fluctuations and air pollution, as sudden cold air and air pollutants are also often triggers, maintaining a routine and balanced diet, being mindful of whether an environment is safe for exercising, and staying alert for symptoms and seeking medical attention early.
Symptoms include increased nighttime coughing, shortness of breath during physical activity or an increased frequency in using inhalers, the agency said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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